Part 2 of 3! This one yet again is not M, but the next one will certainly be. Takes place right after First Time I. Both Akko and Diana are older than 18 and hence way more mature. As previously mentioned, years have passed since the missile crisis.
Now what am I gonna do? Akko thinks worriedly while making her way to Diana's room.
She had just talked with Croix-Sensei about her date with Diana and although she felt better about it, she was still nervous. In fact, after hearing the older witch explain to her the many possibilities of what their combined magic could do together; now it was like an extra burden had been placed upon them. Yet again they were being tasked with taking responsibility of something they didn't fully understand.
Akko knew that she had to talk to Diana. It was the only way she would be able to calm down and think clearly about their next step. Although she had left Croix-Sensei's classroom feeling confident, once she was alone and had time to think by herself about their discussion, the brunette witch realized the repercussions of learning of this new power inside of them.
What if they were not capable of controlling their magic?
Croix-Sensei had said to her that their magic could create anything they thought of. Said magic had already been released by them once they discovered the 7 words. That had allowed many people from around the world to start using magic in places where there were no Sorcerers' Stones. And, while that was good, it also meant that the power Diana and her had was something that shouldn't be taken lightly by them.
But then again why were they the ones that had to carry such a burden?
From the fact that the Shiny Rod came to her to the realization that said magical artifact had bounded itself to Diana and her; it was quite clear that their future would always be filled with mystery and what-ifs. Their relationship was always going to be put on par with magic and their actions were always going to bring consequences that would not only affect them but the magical community as well.
And, although Croix-Sensei had been excited about the many possibilities their combined magic would have, Akko was worried about what that would do to her relationship with Diana. They were still at school and that meant they didn't have all the answers. In fact, they knew almost nothing about this new type of magic. She had just learned a couple of hours ago that Diana and her were soul mated witches!
There was also the possibility that said magic could give them advantages that they perhaps didn't deserve. And what if people started complaining about this? Arguing that their accomplishments were not truly their own but the result of the Shiny Rod. What would that do to their future careers? To their lives in the magical community? Even today, Principal Holbrook called them from time to time to ask them for help in magical cases. And, while Diana and Akko immediately accepted, the brunette witch had just started to realize that these situations and favors could increase if their powers became known.
Because who wouldn't want to ask them for help if they knew they could create anything? A cure for a terrible disease. Money to end poverty. A new country or piece of land. The possibilities were endless and many would only bring further conflict to them and their loved ones.
Akko had always been a worrier.
She had been worried about becoming a witch like Shiny Chariot. Had been worried her lack of magical skill could prevent that. Had been worried about being accepted by her fellow witches. Had been worried about Croix-Sensei. Had been worried Diana wouldn't like her back. Had been worried her relationship with Ursula-Sensei couldn't be fixed. Had been worried her magic would fail her when she needed it. Had been worried about her date with Diana. Had been worried about their first time together.
Had been worried about silly things.
Now it was different. Now she was terrified.
Taking a deep breath, the Japanese girl has to stop her current line of thought in order to calm down. She had not realized her anxiety was preventing her from breathing and that now she was out of breath. Closing her eyes, she tries to remember the techniques Diana taught her to get back in control of her body.
Deep breath, 1…
Deep breath, 2…
Deep breath, 3…
Deep breath, this was not what she had been expecting when she came to Luna Nova.
And what if this was not something Diana wanted?
The blonde had many things to worry about as well. The future of her family, her career, the school; they were all things that Diana passionately cared about and Akko didn't want to be the one that prevented her girlfriend from making her dreams come true.
Not when in the past Diana had been burdened by the people close to her.
What if she doesn't want to be with me anymore?
Now panicking even more than before, Akko knows that she's really close to losing consciousness. It had been a while since she last had a panic attack, but she could still remember the tell-signs of her shutting down.
Closing her eyes, she thinks about Diana and the fact that perhaps it was better for the blonde witch to let her go. I mean, look how unreliable she was, collapsing and becoming useless without being attacked or challenged. If this was happening to her now, what could she even think of doing when things got more complicated and she had to keep people away from Diana and her?
I would just hurt Diana…
LWALWALWA
I am worried, Diana mutters to herself while leaving her room.
The implications are too great to just relax…
"Why…" she whispers to herself. "Are we the ones that have to carry such a burden?"
Although Professor Ursula had told her to not see this as a burden, Diana knew people well enough to realize that many would try to take advantage of the magic Akko and her had. People in the magical community were selfish and she was sure that it was not going to take long for someone to realize the magical power the two of them had. In fact, she had been surprised no one had approached them after the Shiny Rod incident.
But then again, not even Professors Ursula and Croix had realized the full extent of what they had done until recently. And just like they did, many other witches would analyze the Leylines and the magic inside the Leylines and reach the same conclusion their two mentors had told her.
That Akko and her had magic beyond their wildest dreams.
Closing her eyes, Diana can start to imagine what it was going to be like; getting requests from around the world asking them for help. Asking them for cures and remedies to world problems. To bring world peace, to solve hunger. Or others would try to use them to gain power and control. Threaten them by hurting the people closest to them in order to get their collaboration.
And Diana knew that it was because of the connection Akko and her had to the Shiny Rod.
The power that they had gained came from the rod, of that she was certain. She had also held discussions with Professor Croix about the particularities of the Shiny Rod and the way it allowed its users to gain information and gifts. It explained Professor Ursula's physical and magical strength and the newfound power Akko had after recovering from her post magicless era.
Because, while the effects of the Shiny Rod had been immediately noticed by Diana, for them to manifest in Akko took longer. That was why she was incapable of doing any kind of magic and her spells reverted to the way they were before starting her lessons with Professor Ursula. During that time Diana had been terrified about the possibility of her having taken the brunette's powers. She had been considering the many causes for her enhanced magic and it all connected to Akko's magic powers diminishing. Hence, she had assumed that similar to what had happened when Professor Ursula used the Shiny Rod, she without wanting to, had taken Akko's power.
Luckily, it was the opposite and Akko's body just had to naturally adjust itself to the new magic that was inside of it. Hence, it took her longer to finally grasp that hidden power inside her and utilize it. But when she did, Diana could see the relief, happiness and wonderment in her girlfriend's face.
That was the moment Diana realized that Akko was a worrier.
Akko cared tremendously about the people surrounding her. She wanted to show them happy things and took their opinions and statements to heart. Diana, who had first seen Akko as stubborn and proud, now understood that the brunette witch in reality was easily affected by what others said. But not because of what that could do to her. Akko's worries were more noble than that.
She worried her actions would reflect poorly on her friends and how that could affect them.
And if Diana knew Akko as well as she did, she could only imagine what the brunette would think of this situation. That it was her fault that Diana was placed in this position because the Shiny Rod had been found by her. And Akko, being her noble self, would tell Diana that she didn't need to face this. That she could do it alone and that it wasn't her responsibility.
That she had more important responsibilities like her family legacy.
That she had been in this position so many times through the years and that enough was enough.
She would tell Diana to leave her.
Taking a deep breath in order to calm herself, Diana knows that she needs to discuss all of this with Akko. The brunette witch had become the most important person in her life and Diana was going to do everything in her power to stay by Akko's side and keep her safe.
Because Akko was her life.
"Diana." she hears a familiar voice calling her and turns around to find Professor Croix heading her way.
"Professor Croix." she tries to give the older woman a welcoming smile but knows it doesn't work quite well.
"Not the person you were expecting." she chuckles knowingly and this makes Diana smile.
"Am I that obvious?" the blonde says softly.
"A little." Croix tells her warmly. "But, I may also have some idea of why you would want to talk to her." she explains cheekily and this makes Diana blush.
"Of course Akko went to talk to you." she murmurs embarrassed.
"I know, I was surprised as well." the inventor laughs.
"No, you misunderstood me." Diana clarifies. "I'm not surprised that she went to talk to you. I'm just embarrassed she did."
"What do you mean?" Croix asks softly.
"Certainly you must know how much you mean to Akko, right? And how much she trusts and values your opinion."
"I do." she says hesitantly. "But I was expecting her to ask these questions to Char, not to me."
This makes Diana laugh happily.
"Because she loves you! And, she knows you tend to be more 'understanding' when it comes to naughty behavior."
Croix laughs as well.
"I see." she continues laughing. "But to be honest…" she murmurs embarrassed. "It's still nice to know that Akko sees me that way."
Diana gets close to her and hugs her tight.
"We both see you as our mother, Croix." she says warmly and knows her words reached the older woman because she feels her squeezing her tighter in return.
"Thank you D." Croix blushes and kisses her on the cheek before separating. "Now I'm going to tease you about that talk I had with your girlfriend earlier."
"And I was hoping that this emotional talk would make you forget all about it." Diana mutters.
"I don't think that's something easy to forget." the lilac-haired woman snickers. "But, I'm actually surprised to see you all alone."
"What do you mean?" the blonde asks confused.
"Akko left my office a while ago saying that she was going to find you." Croix answers her.
"But I just came from my room."
"Really? Well, maybe she got distracted with something on her way there."
"Maybe…" Diana starts to say but quickly realizes that she's running out of breath.
This feeling… she thinks while concentrating on blocking Akko's presence… It's not coming from me.
"Diana?" she hears Croix asking her worriedly while holding her up. "What's wrong?!"
"Akko." Diana simply says and knows the older woman understands her because she immediately takes one of her drones out and orders it to find Akko.
"Her magic essence is near your room." Croix tells her anxiously. "But her levels are dropping rapidly."
"So most probably she's close to losing consciousness." the blonde witch says worriedly and finally manages to regain control of her body. "Ok, I'm back."
"That took you less time than what I was expecting." the inventor tells her surprised. "Wait, where are you going?!" she asks when Diana starts running ahead. "I still don't know in which direction Akko is."
"I can feel her presence." Diana yells while running towards her room, knowing because of the bond she shared with Akko that the brunette was near that area.
Diana knew that panic attacks were nothing new to Akko. In fact, her girlfriend had become more prone to having them after her incident with McCallister. Unfortunately, that episode with the older witch had left scars on Akko's psyche and the Japanese woman had moments in which she experienced very vivid panic attacks. While they were not common, Diana had not realized how much they could affect her girlfriend until she felt the symptoms of one herself.
It had been during one of their scheduled trips to visit Croix at her home. Since the inventor had just finished creating a mobile training center, the older woman had asked Akko and Diana to test it for her. And Akko, being her usual excited and curious self, had agreed immediately. Since the mobile center was meant to prepare witches for fights, the two young girls had to simulate a fight between them. Unfortunately, after one of the attacks Diana used made Akko collapse on the floor, she knew that something was happening with her girlfriend.
(Flashback)
"Diana?" Ursula asks confused after being summoned by Diana's danger signal. "What is wrong?" she asks but then focuses on the brunette who is laying on the floor incapable of breathing. "Akko!" she screams and runs to where her student is. "What happened?!"
"Panic attack." Diana manages to say while doing all she could to not let go of Akko. "Practicing magic. Spell reminded her of McCallister."
"What?" the red-haired woman says confused and then notices that Diana is also not doing well. "Did your spell hit her?"
Diana sees the woman's confusion.
Nevertheless, before she can try to answer her question, both witches watch Croix quickly entering the room with a potion in her hand.
"Make Akko drink this." she orders Ursula who does immediately as said.
Once she does that, they all feel Akko falling peacefully asleep.
The moment that happens, Diana takes one deep breath and finds herself capable of talking and being calm.
"Thank you." she whispers thankfully while caressing Akko's forehead tenderly.
"What happened?" Ursula asks confused. "What was going on?!" she then turns around to look at Croix. "How did you make it here so quickly?!"
This makes Croix stare guiltily at both of them.
"You know something." Diana tells her seriously. "And it has to do with what Akko and I just experienced."
This makes the lilac-haired woman stare surprisingly at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I could feel Akko's panic and desperation." the blonde witch informs her dejectedly. "And the relief she experienced after you gave her that potion."
This makes Croix huff and sit in front of Akko, who was laying on Ursula's lap.
"This just started happening a week ago." the inventor informs them sadly. "Akko and I were researching for one of her classes and she saw something that triggered her memory. Made her remember the incident with McCallister."
"Akko…"
"Before I could notice that something was wrong with Akko, she was having a panic attack. One that I stopped with that potion you just gave her." Croix adds bitterly. "When I asked her about it, she made me swear to not tell you anything because she wanted to be the one to do so." she smiles dejectedly. "But it seems like she didn't do it."
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Ursula says angrily. "You know how much Akko means to me!"
"She made me promise Char." the lilac-haired witch apologizes. "I couldn't break her confidence like that."
"Her life could be at stake here!"
"I know!" Croix also yells. "I swear I wanted to tell you! But after everything we have been through, I just couldn't do it. It had only happened once and she let me put a bracelet on her that would help me keep track of her vitals and magic."
"So that's why Akko started wearing that watch." Diana murmurs while watching the two older women fighting.
"That doesn't justify the fact that you needed to tell me!" Ursula says bitterly.
"You would have done the same in my position. In fact, you did so when Akko was attacked!" Croix answers back angrily.
"That was different!" the red-haired woman says desperately.
"Was it?!"
"Enough." Diana interrupts them calmly and both women immediately stop talking. "Akko wouldn't want you two fighting." she adds firmly. "Besides, I'm afraid it's not as simple as that."
This makes them close their eyes and separate from each other.
"Diana is right." Croix adds worriedly. "Before this incident, I had no idea of what was causing Akko to experience the attacks. So to now know that Diana is capable of feeling what Akko is feeling must mean that their magic got combined after they used the Shiny Rod."
"Is that even possible?" Ursula murmurs dejectedly. "It's been months since the missile incident and you're telling me that the symptoms of using the rod are just starting to manifest themselves?"
"I don't know Char…" the inventor explains. "All I can tell you is that whatever is happening to Akko can also affect Diana."
"But sharing feelings…"
"I think it wasn't like that." Diana adds while caressing Akko's cheek. "I think the moment I started to feel what Akko was feeling was when my subconscious asked for it. I wanted to understand why Akko was in pain and the very next moment I was feeling short of breath."
"That sounds like making a wish." Ursula murmurs to herself.
"It certainly needs to be investigated." Croix agrees and gets a knowing look from her girlfriend.
"We need to talk to her."
This makes Croix close her eyes and take one deep breath before nodding in agreement.
"We need to contact Professor Woodward."
(End of Flashback)
"You need to tell Chariot to meet us at Diana's room!" Croix screams to one of her droids and sends it to the Astronomy Tower to her girlfriend. "Diana, her vitals are dropping."
"I can feel it." the blonde replies and takes another left turn before reaching the hall of the dorms.
Rapidly looking around, she immediately sees familiar brown hair and the owner of said hair kneeling down, clearly on the verge of losing consciousness.
"Akko!" she screams while stopping in front of her girlfriend and holding her tight. "Akko!" she uses her fingers to touch her pulse and notices it very slow. "Croix!" she panics.
"Calm down Diana." the older woman instructs her. "Remember that right now Akko and you are sharing feelings. Hence, if you also start panicking then Akko will also feel it."
Nodding in understanding, Dian starts taking deep breaths, trying her best to sync her breathing and making it slow and soothing enough for Akko.
"I don't know what to do." she whimpers to the inventor who also seems at a lost. "She barely has a pulse."
"Something made her have the attack." Croix starts thinking outloud. "But no one has been around her because my droid can only trace Akko's magical essence."
"So that means she caused it herself." Diana concentrates. "You said you talked with Akko earlier about our incident." she starts saying. "Did you discuss something that would have made her worry?"
"We talked about the fact that you were soulmates and that each time you two experienced strong bonds your magic became more powerful."
"I also had that conversation with Ursula. I was worried because it meant that we had to further think and talk about tomorrow night." the blonde witch explains and the moment she does so realizes what had made Akko had the panic attack.
Akko is a worrier…
"Croix! Diana!" they both hear the worried voice of Ursula getting close to them. "What happened to Akko?" she asks worriedly while taking a potion out of her pocket.
"Thank you." the lilac-haired woman tells her with a sad smile. "It seems that Akko had another attack. Although we don't know what caused it."
"I think I know why Akko had the panic attack." Diana says while getting close to Akko's face and smiling softly at her. "It's because she started worrying about me."
"Worrying about you?" Ursula asks confused while laying next to Diana and checking on Akko herself.
"Of what this new magic could do to us and to my responsibilities." she explains softly. "Akko probably started thinking that this would become a burden to me and that it was unfair of me to have it since the Shiny Rod didn't choose me."
"But it did choose you." Croix says determined. "The moment you both used it during the missile crisis, it was the moment the rod chose you." she smiles dejectedly. "Trust me, the rod only allows specific people to use it."
"What do you mean?"
"She means that the rod never allowed her to use it." Ursula explains to her simply. "In fact, only after Croix made peace with what happened did she Shiny Rod allowed her to touch it."
"Before it would always electrocute me if I tried." the inventor chuckles.
"So the fact that I could touch it…" Diana murmurs.
"It meant that the rod saw you as a legitimate user. Akko probably doesn't know that." Croix says calmly. "Which could explain why she would be blaming herself."
"Blaming herself, why would she be blaming herself?" Ursula asks confused.
"Akko had with Professor Croix the same talk we two had." Diana explains to her and this makes the red-haired woman finally understand what was happening.
"I see." she murmurs while using her magic to enhance her arms. "But then again, this is typical Akko."
"Totally." Croix agrees while using her drones to help Ursula. "If there's one person Akko will put before herself then that's Diana."
"She must know that I would do the same for her." Diana whispers worriedly and watches the two older woman put Akko on her bed. "That if the need arises, I would leave everything behind and be with her."
"But that wouldn't be right." they all hear Akko say softly. "Because you had so many dreams before meeting me. Returning your family estate to what it used to be. Making magic become widely known. Making the rest of olde families see that the Cavendish are proud and kind. All of those dreams…" the brunette explains warmly. "I could never take them away from you."
"Akko, those dreams mean nothing if you're not by my side." Diana says determined. "Those dreams came from the mind of a lonely girl. Because all I had before I met you was my name, my magic and my estate. But now…" she gives her a happy smile. "And thanks to you, I have so much more."
"You have more worries and more problems." Akko says dejectedly.
"No silly!" the blonde chuckles. "I have a family! You Akko, along with Ursula and Croix, are my family. And I know we can all agree…" she points at the two older women who are watching them talk. "That you were the one that brought us all together."
"Really?" Akko whispers vulnerably. "You don't hate me then for what is happening to us? For this bond that was created between us and that will be something you and I will always have to think about?"
"Of course not!" Diana replies passionately. "While right now this bond is worrying me." she admits. "I know that we will find a way to overcome it. And that in the future, the sacrifices we make in order to harness this power, will return to us in a positive way."
"Diana…" the Japanese woman says softly. "Do you really mean this?"
"You must feel that I am." the blonde witch smiles warmly at her. "That this closeness and warmth we have, I do not see it as a burden or a hindrance. That it is a gift that allows me to be even closer to you."
"I can feel it." Akko promises her while crying and opening her eyes so that Diana hugs her. "I'm sorry I'm always doubting you and what you feel for me. It's not because I don't believe you."
"It is because you don't believe in yourself and don't realize how much you mean to me." Diana finishes her line of thought. "But then again, maybe it is because I haven't shown you enough."
"Diana, that's not…" the brunette tries to say.
"But, I promise that tomorrow I will." the blonde continues explaining. "That after tomorrow, we won't have any doubts about our bond and our relationship."
"Diana…" Akko says moved. "Does that mean then…"
"Yes, I trust you and I know that what we have is real and true."
"That tomorrow we'll make love." both witches say at the same time and this makes the two older women in the room laugh loudly.
"Akko!" Diana admonishes her while separating from her girlfriend. "Really?!"
"I'm sorry Diana, but what you said, it could be interpreted that way."
"I was trying to be romantic." the blonde pouts.
"And you were!" Akko promises her.
"Not very clearly if Akko thought you were telling her to have sex." Croix says cheekily and this makes Diana blush even more than before.
"Croix-Sensei, you're not helping!" the brunette complains.
"Croix, don't tease them." Ursula adds her own reprimand. "But you two." she says to the two women with a kind smile. "Please, think of what we both told you and plan ahead."
Hearing this yet again makes the two younger witches blush.
"Just hearing it like that…" Akko starts saying.
"Is really embarrassing." Diana finishes her girlfriend's line of thought.
"Look, they're finishing each other's sentences!" Croix shrieks happily. "I wonder if tomorrow you'll experience two times the pleas…"
"NO! Don't even go there!" Akko, Diana and Ursula say to the older woman who merely laughs and takes out one of her tablets.
"This is definitely something worth researching and getting data. So, do you think you would be ok with having a wristband while…"
"CROIX!"
We will be fine… Akko and Diana think while watching the two older women bicker with each other.
Because we're a family… the two younger witches grab hands and think ahead of what is coming tomorrow.
Now they were ready.
